The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 17: Elections

Chapter 035: Offenses Against the Purity of Elections

• Subchapter 001: PENALTIES UPON OFFICERS

• § 1931. Presiding officer receiving illegal vote

  A presiding officer in a local, primary, or general election who knowingly receives and counts a vote from a person not a qualified voter or knowingly receives from a voter, at any one balloting for the same office, more than one vote shall be fined not more than $100.00 if the offense is committed in a local election and not more than $500.00 if in a primary or general election. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 1932. Counting ballots and opening ballot boxes before proper time

  A presiding officer at a primary or general election who allows the ballots for representative to the General Assembly, or State, county, or congressional officers to be counted or, except as provided in section 2499 of this title, the ballot box containing the same to be opened before the closing of the polls shall be fined not more than $200.00 nor less than $20.00. (Amended 1961, No. 198, § 4, eff. July 5, 1961; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 1933. Nonperformance of duty by public officer

  Except as otherwise provided by this title, a public officer upon whom a duty is imposed by the provisions of this title who willfully neglects to perform such duty or who willfully performs it in such a way as to hinder the object of the provisions of this title shall be fined not more than $500.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• Subchapter 002: PENALTIES UPON VOTERS

• § 1971. Casting more than one ballot

  A legal voter who knowingly casts more than one ballot at any one time of balloting for the same office shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 if the offense is committed at a primary or general election, and not more than $100.00 if committed at a local election. (Amended 2001, No. 5, § 10; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 1972. Showing ballot; interference with voter

  (a) A voter who, except in cases of assistance as provided in this title, allows his or her ballot to be seen by another person with an apparent intention of letting it be known how he or she is about to vote or makes a false statement to the presiding officer at an election as to his or her inability to mark his or her ballot or places a distinguishing mark on his or her ballot or a person who interferes with a voter when inside the guard rail or who, within the building in which the voting is proceeding, endeavors to induce a voter to vote for a particular candidate, shall be fined $1,000.00.

  (b) It shall be the duty of the election officers to see that the offender is duly prosecuted for a violation of this section. (Amended 2001, No. 5, § 11; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 1973. Voting in more than one place

  A person who, on the same day, votes in more than one town, district, or ward for the same office shall be fined not more than $1,000.00. (Amended 2001, No. 5, § 12.)

• § 1974. Voter omitted from list, voting in another political subdivision

  A person who is a resident and entitled to vote in a political subdivision in which a checklist of voters has been made previous to an election, whose name, through his or her neglect, is not entered thereon, who votes in another political subdivision at such election shall be fined not more than $200.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• Subchapter 003: MISCELLANEOUS

• § 2011. Perjury before board making checklist

  A person who knowingly swears falsely to a fact or matter that may be the subject of inquiry by the board of civil authority or town clerk in revising the checklist as provided in this title shall be guilty of perjury and imprisoned not more than 15 years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both. (Amended 1971, No. 199 (Adj. Sess.), § 17; 1981, No. 223 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 2012. Procuring change in list wrongfully

  A person who, directly or indirectly, procures or causes to be procured or aids in procuring the name of a person to be inserted on a checklist of voters, knowing such person not to be a voter in the political subdivision for which such list is made or, directly or indirectly, procures or causes to be procured or aids in procuring the name of a person to be erased from such list, knowing him or her to be a legal voter in such political subdivision, shall be fined not more than $200.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 2013. False answer as to right to vote

  A person who knowingly gives a false answer or information to the presiding officer at a local, primary, or general election or to the authority present to decide upon the qualifications of voters, touching a person’s right to vote at such election, shall be fined not more than $200.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 2014. Unqualified person voting

  A person, knowing that he or she is not a qualified voter, who votes at a local, primary, or general election for an officer to be elected at that election shall be fined not more than $200.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 2015. Fraudulent voting

  A person who personates another, living or dead, and gives or offers to give a vote in the name of that other person or gives or offers to give a vote under a fictitious name at a local, primary, or general election for an officer to be elected at that election shall be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than $200.00, or both. (Amended 1981, No. 223 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 2016. Aiding unqualified voter to vote

  A person who willfully aids or abets a person who is not a duly qualified voter in voting or attempting to vote at a local, primary, or general election shall be fined not more than $200.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 2017. Undue influence

  A person who attempts by bribery, threats, or any undue influence to dictate, control, or alter the vote of a voter about to be given at a local, primary, or general election shall be fined not more than $200.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2019, No. 67, § 5.)

• § 2018. Repealed. 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

• § 2019. Destroying lists; hindering voting

  A person who, prior to a local, primary, or general election, willfully defaces or destroys any list of candidates posted in accordance with law or, during that election, willfully defaces, tears down, removes, or destroys any card posted for the instruction of voters or, during that election, willfully removes or destroys any of the supplies or conveniences furnished to enable a voter to prepare his or her ballot or willfully hinders the voting of others shall be fined $200.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 2020. Repealed. 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.

• § 2021. Destruction of or fraudulent acts pertaining to primary election documents; alteration or delay of ballots

  A person who falsely makes or willfully defaces or destroys a primary petition, certificate of nomination, or nomination paper or any part thereof, or any letter of assent or of withdrawal, or who files a primary petition, certificate of nomination, nomination paper, letter of assent, or letter of withdrawal knowing the same or any part thereof to be falsely made, or who suppresses a primary petition, certificate of nomination, nomination paper, letter of assent, or letter of withdrawal or any part thereof that has been filed, or forges or falsely makes the official endorsement upon a ballot to be used at a primary or at an election or willfully destroys or defaces such a ballot or willfully delays the delivery of such ballots shall be fined $200.00. (Amended 2013, No. 161 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)

• § 2022. Repealed. 1997, No. 64, § 21.